Working across Wessex
SPECIALTY TRAINING PROGRAMME IN GENERAL PRACTICE IN HEALTH EDUCATION ENGLAND, WESSEX
This is a three year run-through training programme in General Practice with entry at ST1 aimed at doctors who can demonstrate the essential competences to enter this level of training. The programme is designed to support training for a CCT in General Practice. Details of essential competences and qualifications are given in the MMC person specification for General Practice at ST1 which is available from
Trainees who satisfactorily complete the training programme will be able to apply for a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in General Practice or Certificate of Eligibility for the General Practice Register (CEGPR).
The programme is based in hospitals and approved GP training practices in Wessex including:
HOSPITAL / LOCATIONNorth Hampshire Hospital (Hampshire Hospitals) / Basingstoke
The Royal Bournemouth Hospital / Bournemouth
Dorset County Hospital / Dorchester
St Ann’s Hospital / Poole
St Mary’s Hospital / Isle of Wight
Jersey General Hospital / St Helier, Jersey
Poole Hospital / Poole
Queen Alexandra Hospital / Portsmouth
St Mary’s Hospital / Portsmouth
St James’s Hospital / Portsmouth
Salisbury District Hospital / Salisbury
Southampton General Hospital / Southampton
Royal South Hants Hospital / Southampton
Princess Anne Hospital / Southampton
Tatchbury Mount / Southampton
Lyndhurst Hospital / New Forest (Southampton)
Moorgreen Hospital / Southampton
Western Community Hospital / Southampton
Royal Hampshire County Hospital (Hampshire Hospitals) / Winchester
Health Education England, Wessex is responsible for the planning, development, education and training of the healthcare and public health workforce across Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and Salisbury. We also provide medical training for the States of Jersey and GP appraisal services for Jersey and Guernsey. We believe that the key to improving the health and healthcare of the 2.8 million people living in Wessex is investment in the skills and values of the 52,000 people working in the NHS and in primary care.
We manage postgraduate and medical education and training across primary and secondary care for these health communities with around 2,400 doctors in training at any one time across 12 Trusts and 180 GP practices. In addition, we support the workforce development for GP Practice Nurses and Public Health practitioners as well managing a bespoke GP appraisal service for established GP Practitioners to meet the requirements for revalidation in accordance with the statutory requirements set by the General Medical Council.
We manage training programmes for postgraduate medical training according to the statutory standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC) and have responsibility for establishing and maintaining quality management systems for all posts and programmes as required by the GMC.
The work of the Health Education England, Wessex is guided by the principles embedded within the NHS Constitution.
Rotation Information
Expected rotation arrangements for this programme are:
- All three year GP training programmes provide 18 months in hospital posts and 6 months in General Practice during the first two years. The final 12 months is spent in General Practice.
- At ST1 and ST2, the programme is divided into 6 month posts. Occasionally there will be 3 month posts on some programmes.
- Sample rotations:
- 6m General Medicine; 6m O&G; 6m GP; 6m Psychiatry; 12m GP
- 6m GP; 6m O&G; 6m Emergency Medicine; 6m Paediatrics; 12 m GP
- 6m Emergency Medicine; 6m Paediatrics; 6m GP; 6m General Medicine; 12 m GP
Study and Training
The primary aim of all posts is the delivery of training programmes developed to meet RCGP curriculum requirements and there is a national syllabus and minimum standards of education agreed by all Trusts within the rotation.
The Health Education England, Wessex is committed to developing postgraduate training programmes as laid down by GMC, Colleges and Faculties and by COPMED - the Postgraduate Deans Network. At local level college/specialty tutors work with the Programme Director and Directors of Medical Education in supervising these programmes. Trainees will be expected to take part in these programmes (including audit) and to attend meetings with their nominated educational supervisor.
All posts within the training programme are recognised for postgraduate training by the General Medical Council (GMC) in accordance with their standards for training.
Study leave is granted in accordance with Health Education England, Wessex/Trust policy and is subject to the maintenance of the service.
All posts have a service element and the following covers the majority of duties. There will be minor variations in different hospitals but the list is aimed at covering the majority of duties:
- Supervise, monitor and assist the House Officer (F1) in the day-to-day management of in-patients in posts with an attached F1.
- Liaise between nurses, F1 and F2 Doctors, patients, relatives and senior medical staff.
- Attend and participate in ward rounds as timetabled.
- Attend outpatient clinics.
- Take part in rostered emergency work during hospital posts. While in GP, there is a requirement to carry out Out of Hours work.
- Dictate discharge summaries.
- Study for higher examination and maintain continued professional development. This includes a requirement to maintain a satisfactory e-portfolio.
- Attend weekly educational and multidisciplinary sessions.
- Undertake audit at various times throughout the rotations.
- Teach medical students as directed.
- Co-operate with members of the personnel department when monitoring hours of work and other personnel issues.
- Attend induction in each hospital or new department
- Comply with all local policies including dress code, annual and study leave
Specialty Information
Appendix 1 – GP rotations available in Wessex.
A list of posts used to construct the rotations on each training programme
Appendix 2 – GP Educational Guidelines for Wessex.Information about timetables, study leave, MRCGP assessments
RCGP Curriculum
The RCGP Curriculum is available on the College website:
Teaching
- All GP ST1 and ST2 trainees attend locally organised Day Release Courses held one day per month for 10 months each year.
- All GP ST3 trainees attend approximately 30 – 36 weekly locally organised Day Release Courses.
- Educational Supervision is provided by approved GP Trainers and Programme Directors using the RCGP e-portfolio.
- In addition to the above, all GP placements include one session per week of protected teaching time/tutorial.
Main Conditions of Service – subject to confirmation with new Contract for Junior Doctors
The posts are whole-time and the appointments are subject to:
- The Terms and Conditions of Service (TCS) for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff (England and Wales)
- Satisfactory registration with the General Medical Council
- Medical Fitness – You may be required to undergo a medical examination and chest x-ray. Potential applicants should be aware of the Department of Health and GMC/GDC requirements with regards to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis viruses. Candidates must be immune to Hepatitis B. You will be required to provide, in advance of appointment, evidence of immunity or have a local blood test (as deemed necessary by the Occupational Health Department)
- Right to work in the UK
- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check/POCA check carried out by the Trust Medical HR department or by the employing Practice. GP trainees must register and subscribe to the online update service within 19 days of the issue of their DBS certificate. It is a requirement for the Medical Performers List that they maintain their subscription to the online update service for the duration of their GP training.
- Pre-employment checks carried out by the Trust Medical HR department or the employing Practice.
Hours
The working hours for junior doctors in training are now 48-hours averaged over 26 weeks (six months). Doctors in training also have an individual right to opt-out if they choose to do so, but they cannot opt-out of rest break or leave requirements. However, the contracts for doctors in training make clear that overall hours must not exceed 56 hours in a week (New Deal Contract requirements) across all their employments and any locum work they do.
Pay
You should be paid monthly at the rates set out in the national terms and conditions of service for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine and the community health service (England and Wales), “the TCS”, as amended from time to time. The payscales are reviewed annually. Current rates of pay may be viewed at
Part-time posts will be paid pro-rata.
Pay supplement
Depending upon the working pattern and hours of duty you are contracted to undertake by the employer you should be paid a monthly additional pay supplement at the rates set out in paragraph 22 of the TCS. The current payscales may be viewed at: . The pay supplement is not reckonable for NHS pension purposes. The pay supplement will be determined by the employer and should be made clear in their offer of employment and subject to monitoring.
Pension
You will be entitled to join or continue as a member of the NHS Pension Scheme, subject to its terms and rules, which may be amended from time to time.
Annual leave
Your entitlement to annual leave will be five or six weeks per annum depending upon your previous service/incremental point, as set out in paragraphs 205 – 206 of the TCS.
The TCS may be viewed at
Sick pay
Entitlements are outlined in paragraphs 225-240 of the TCS.
Notice
You will be required to give your employer and entitled to receive from them notice in accordance with paragraphs 195 – 196 of the TCS.
Study leave
The employer is expected to offer study leave in accordance with paragraphs 250 – 254 of the TCS. Local policy and procedure will be explained at your induction.
Travel expenses
The employer is expected to offer travel expenses in accordance with paragraphs 277 – 308 of the TCS for journeys incurred in performing your duties. Local policy and procedure will be explained at induction.
Subsistence expenses
The employer is expected to offer subsistence expenses in accordance with paragraph 311 of the TCS. Local policy and procedure will be explained at induction.
Relocation expenses
The employer will have a local policy for relocation expenses based on paragraphs 314 – 315 of the TCS and national guidance at
You are advised to check eligibility and confirm any entitlement with the employer before incurring any expenditure. In addition to local policy the Health Education England, Wessex relocationguidance which can be viewed on
Pre-employment checks
All NHS employers are required to carry out pre-employment checks. The employer will confirm their local arrangements expected to be in line with national guidance at
Professional registration
It will be a requirement of employment that you have professional registration with the GMC for
Health and safety
All employers have a duty to protect their workers from harm. You will be advised by the employer of local policies and procedures intended to protect your health and safety and to comply with these.
Disciplinary and grievance procedures
The employer will have local policies and procedures for dealing with any disciplinary concerns or grievances you may have. They will advise you how to access these, not later than eight weeks after commencement of employment.
Educational supervisor
The employer will confirm your supervisor on commencement.
General information
Details of the management of Specialty Training programmes by Health Education England, Wessex, including issues such as taking time out of programme and dealing with concerns or complaints, is available at and in the national ‘Gold Guide’ to Specialty Training at:
1